Before delving too far into the subject of serious musical genius and
the potentially hazardous repercussions of comparing a lovely and
talented classical pianist to oh, for kicks and giggles let us just say
... Eddie Van Halen, I want to mention a few words about Bach.

Not as shame-soaked as most people would like me to be, I have to admit
when I hear the name Bach I think Catherine. Jessica Simpson may have
usurped her role as Daisy Duke in the movie version of "The Dukes of
Hazzard," but to anyone who watched the television show from '79 to
'86, Catherine is the real Daisy Duke.

Unfortunately, and I'm sorry Mr. Johann Sebastian Bach, the second
thing I think of is Skid Row. No, not the derelict, down-trodden, boozy
section of Los Angeles on the outskirts of Union Station, but the
hair-metal band famous for their hits "Youth Gone Wild" and "Eighteen
and Life." The singer for Skid Row was a charismatic and lanky fellow
with a great voice who went by the stage name Sebastian Bach.

Beautiful Bond girl Barbara Bach, famous for her role as Anya Amasova
in "The Spy Who Loved Me," rounds out the list of Bach's I think of
first. That is unless you take into account baseball's "balk," which
sounds like Bach but is, in fact, an illegal pitching motion where the
pitcher pretends to pitch but actually screws with everyone's head by
clipping his toenails.

Why all the talk about Bach? Well, it seems a certain musically gifted
and world-renowned pianist that knows a little bit about the legendary
18th century German composer and organist extraordinaire will be
performing in Aspen as part of the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Simone Dinnerstein will perform at Harris Concert Hall on Tuesday, July
22, at 6 p.m. The program will consist of her interpretation of J.S.
Bach's "Goldberg Variations."

The New York-born and current Brooklynite Dinnerstein is a chip off the
old block. Her father Simon Dinnerstein is one of the most dynamic
painters of the last half-century. A Cannon Prize winner and elected
member of New York's National Academy of Design, it is no wonder he is
one half of the winning team that produced such an amazing talent.

Simone Dinnerstein approaches the piano, and the genre of classical
music in general, unlike very few musicians; this is what separates her
from the average astonishingly talented artist and lifts her to the
pedestal of greatness. Not just the run-of-the-mill prodigy, she is the
thinking person's ivory tickler.

Dinnerstein's opening "Aria" is a bold, personal and thoughtful take on
Bach's vision. Instead of playing along with the Master's confident
stride and proud step, she tiptoes into the wild forest. Like a fawn
struggling to find its legs, her "Aria" sets a tone of deliberate
caution, all sense of sureness out the window. It takes one aback and
sets Ms. Dinnerstein apart from those who might be lauded for their
ability to perform the piece from a strictly technical approach. Her
imagination is as brilliant as that of her exceptionally able hands.

On the other side of the coin, "Goldberg Variations No. 26" is 104
seconds of absolute excitement, cheer and joy. The nimble-fingered
Dinnerstein is absolutely spot-on, note perfect and dazzling. Her
natural ability surpasses that of a bucketful of her more famous
contemporaries.

Tuesday's concert at the acoustically perfect Harris Hall is going to
be a journey into the mind and soul of my new favorite Bach, Johann
Sebastian. Although, it is a very close tie with Catherine. Perhaps I
watched too much television as a child but at 11 years old, girls in
skin tight, cut-off, mini-shorts were a lot more attractive than dead
guys playing piano on the Victrola. As far as the earlier alluded to
comparison between Eddie Van Halen and Simone Dinnerstein: The only
similarity is vision and virtuosity. Ms. Dinnerstein is infinitely more
photogenic.

hood@aspendailynews.com